Siege of Asculum (271)

The Siege of Asculum occurred in 271 AD during the Crisis of the Third Century. Legio III Illyrica, which was loyal to the imperial claimant Aurelian, assaulted the city of Asculum in eastern central Italy and conquered it from the forces loyal to Quintillus.

Legio III Illyrica sailed across the Adriatic Sea and disembarked near Asculum, assaulting the city from land. The legion, which had a strength of 1,520 troops, laid siege to the smaller garrison of 600 troops, assaulting the city and taking it with just 157 losses. Asculum's fall was the third pincer to assault Italy, with Aurelian invading from the north and Lucius Marcianus invading from Sicily.